T.A.G. committee members have a hand in crafting and developing a state-wide green business standard that will potentially be linked to a new national green business standard. T.A.G. experts also have a direct impact on increasing the adoption of the latest and most efficient, best green practices to be adopted in hundreds and potentially thousands of businesses.

We are currently forming Technical Advisory Groups for the following areas. If you are interested in being a part of one of our Technical Advisory Groups, please read over the PDFs to learn more specific information about each:

If you are interested in joining a T.A.G. or would like more information, please contact Anthony Santarelli at anthony AT illinoisgba.com.

See below for a list of organizations that are represented in our Technical Advisory Groups.

Alliance for Water Efficiency

Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District

Chicago Conservation Corps

Green Home Experts

Hoerr Schaudt

Kankakee Community College

Lewis & Clark Community College

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center

Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

PepsiCo, Pepsi Beverages America

SavAtree Consulting

Smart Energy Design Assistance Center

Springfield Electric

Triton College

University of Illinois

Village of Oak Park

Waste Management Recycle America

2013-14 T.A.G. Certification Steering Committee Members

Debra F. Jacobson, CSP
Ms. Jacobson manages the Technical Assistance Program at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) a unit of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois. She works as an environmental engineer providing technical, environmental and safety compliance assistance to industrial facilities within Illinois. Ms. Jacobson also oversees the Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Awards program (formerly known as the Pollution Prevention Award). Ms. Jacobson works closely with federal, state and local government agencies and industry trade groups on environmental matters affecting industry.

In addition to her work within Illinois, Ms. Jacobson is an auditor for the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP). SGP is the industry standard for the certification and continuous improvement of sustainability and best practices within print manufacturing operations. Ms. Jacobson is also Director of the USEPA funded Printer's National Environmental Assistance Center, a virtual resource center housed within ISTC. Through the Center, Ms. Jacobson works with other Center staff to provide regulatory, technical and pollution prevention assistance to printers throughout the country.

Prior to joining ISTC in 1995 Ms. Jacobson provided environmental compliance and waste minimization oversight at a packaging manufacturer. While there she was responsible for environmental compliance, safety, insurance and real estate matters.

Ms. Jacobson is a member of Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA), an international association of environmental professionals and currently serves on the board of directors of the Lake Michigan State Section of the AWMA. She is also a member of the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, the Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable, the Illinois Counties Solid Waste Management Association, and the Industrial Waste Water Sewage Group.

Wynne Coplea
Wynne Coplea has been a professional waste/recycling manager and educator for more than 20 years. Wynne currently serves as Director of College Partnerships for the Illinois Green Economy Network, a collaborative partnership for sustainable operations, academics and community leadership among Illinois community colleges. Ms. Coplea holds a BA in Environmental Education/Liberal Arts and an MA in Communication from the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) and serves as Vice President, Board of Directors for the Illinois Recycling Association. Wynne was co-founder of the Green Business Network of Springfield (now defunct) and creator of the environmental education plan for the USGBC LEED-Platinum Erin’s Pavilion and Southwind Park, a universally accessible and sustainably designed destination in Springfield, IL. Wynne is an adjunct professor at UIS, teaching Environmental Service Learning in the past and currently teaching Environmental Education.

Marya Ryan
Marya Ryan is director of certification at the International Society of Arboriculture, a not-for-profit membership association for tree care professionals with chapters and associates in more that 20 countries worldwide. The ISA Certified Arborist® Program is accredited under the ISO 17024 standard for personnel certification. Ryan serves on the board of the Illinois Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and holds USGBC's LEED AP credential. She has been chair of the City of Urbana's Sustainability Advisory Commission since its inception in 2008. She received her PhD from the University of Illinois in 1995 and worked in university administration for 10 years before joining the International Society of Arboriculture in 2011.

Scott R. Tess
Scott R. Tess is the Environmental Sustainability Manager for the City of Urbana, IL. He oversees the Recycling and Environmental Compliance programs and is responsible for working with the Sustainability Advisory Commission to implement the City’s Climate Action Plan and Sustainable Water Management Plan. Prior to his current appointment, Scott was the Pollution Prevention (P2) Coordinator for the Orange County, FL Environmental Protection Division. He also worked in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program for Orange County, FL. Before joining Orange County, Scott worked for the Florida Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health in the well and septic programs. Scott earned his B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a LEED Green Associate. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Planning in Civic Urbanism at Rollins College.

Pamela J. Evans

Pamela Evans has worked in toxics regulation since 1980 and in pollution prevention and community toxics programs since 1990. Since 1997, she has coordinated Alameda County’s Green Business certification program, a pilot effort that has led the way for eight other locally run Bay Area Green Business Programs, as well as several in other parts of California. The Green Business Program is a third party certifier on environmental performance.

Green Business certification integrates environmental regulatory compliance with resource conservation and pollution prevention. Over 35 government agencies, utilities and business service organizations are partners in Alameda County’s effort, which has certified over 500 businesses, utilities, nonprofits and government operations as Bay Area Green Businesses.

Forming partnerships with industry, government, special district and utility stakeholders, the Green Business Program has identified major industry-specific benchmarks for environmentally responsible practices. The GBP also works with partners and the business community to resolve regulatory and other barriers to Program implementation.